IN MEMORIAM: Juan Muntaynes "Monti" Martinez (1965-2013)

From Raffael de Ritis...

The Catalan artist MONTI (Juan Muntaynes Martinez) passed away last evening at age 48. Actor, director, a great man of theatre, a true genius; friend, brother, master; a model of being humble and generous; but, above all, one the greatest and funniest Spanish clown of our times. He committed his entire life to the theatrical dignity of the traditional and popular art of circus. Gracias, Monti!

CLARK & MCCULLOUGH: The Belle of Samoa (Fox 1929)

From Wikipedia...

Clark and McCullough were a comedy team consisting of comedians Bobby Clark and Paul McCullough. They starred in a series of short films during the 1920s and 1930s.

Bobby Clark & Paul McCullough, inKickin' the Crown Around (1933)

Bobby Clark was the fast-talking wisecracker with painted-on eyeglasses; Paul McCullough was his easygoing assistant named Blodgett. The two were childhood friends in Massachusetts, and spent hours practicing tumbling and gymnastics in school. This led to their working as circus performers, then in vaudeville. and finally on Broadway. Their hit show The Ramblers (1926) was adapted as a Wheeler and Woolsey movie comedy, The Cuckoos. Clark and McCullough starred in the George Gershwin musical Strike Up the Band on Broadway in 1930.

In 1928 Clark and McCullough entered the new field of talking pictures, with a series of short subjects and featurettes for Fox Film Corporation. In 1930 they signed with Radio Pictures (later RKO Radio Pictures) for six two-reel comedies annually. The RKO comedies are totally dominated by Clark, barging into every scene and monopolizing much of the conversation, with his good-natured buddy McCullough quietly embellishing his partner's antics with subtler gestures and actions. Each film cast the duo in different occupations, which they would tackle enthusiastically if not efficiently. Their names in the films were dictated by their jobs: as lawyers they were Blackstone and Blodgett, as domestic help they were Cook and Blodgett, as photographers they were Flash and Blodgett. Then as now, their fast-paced zaniness is an acquired taste; some audiences enjoy the nutty humor while others do not. The films were re-released in the late 1940s, with exhibitors still divided in their opinions of the team.

Clark and McCullough filmed most of their movies during the summer months, so they could be free to do stage revues during the rest of the year. They appeared in three Broadway shows while their film contract was in force.

ERNIE KOVACS/PROF. PAUL WENZEL: Show Business Illustrated (Oct. 17, 1961)

MICHAEL "COCO" POLAKOVS: RBB&B Albuquerque, NM (1963)

FELIX ADLER: Clown Alley (Circa 1940s)

GLEN "KINKO" SUNBERRY: Fair Date, Out of Makeup (Circa 1950s)

JOE JACKSON: Holiday Message from Variety

CHARLIE BELL: With Felix Adler (1948)

THE GREAT KAPLAN

MONTGOMERY & STONE: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1902)

Fred Stone & David C. Montgomery in the 1902 musical stage production of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

MOISTURE FESTIVAL (2013)

THE FRATELLINIS: Marcel Bovis Photo Taken at the Cirque d'Hiver (October, 1947)

FRANCOIS FRATELLINI: Marcel Bovis Photo Taken at the Cirque d'Hiver (October, 1947)

EVETTA MATTHEWS: Evetta the Lady Clown as photographed by Emil Constant Puyo (Circa 1895)

Photos shared through the generous research and assistance of Diane Wanek & Enid Wonder

ALL AUCTIONS ARE NOW CLOSED!

NEW AUCTIONS GO LIVE ON FRIDAY MARCH 1ST!

Thank you for supporting the International Clown Hall of Fame  ; )

LIVE AUCTION: To Benefit the International Clown Hall of Fame (Signed Coco Doll)

We have just received word from the estate of Mike "Coco" Polakovs that they would like to join us in supporting the International Clown Hall of Fame!

Coco's daughter Michelle and his wife Hazel are donating one of their few remaining signed Coco dolls.

1991 International Clown Hall of Fame inductee Michael Polakov or "Mike Coco", as he is known, achieved fame in England where the family came while he was a youth and his father (also known as Coco) was the longtime star clown of the Bertram Mills Circus. He was associated with the Bertram Mills and Billy Smart Circuses in England, which later included tours of Europe. He came to the U.S. in 1953 to work for a limited time with the Mills Bros. Circus, before returning to England. Coco later returned to the States and joined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, working both as a member of the alley as well as spending eight years as Advance Clown and Goodwill Ambassador. He is credited with creating the makeup for Ronald McDonald, touring theme parks with Coco's Musical Comix and continued performing in circuses and acting as an Advance Clown for smaller shows.

Coco passed away in 2009. This is one of the very few signed dolls left so we are going to start the bidding at $100. for this doll sent directly to the Hall of Fame from the Polakovs' family collection.

The bidding starts now and continues through 11:59 PM (EST) Sunday night. Simply place your bid in the comments section of this post.

UPDATE! Bill Irwin Figurine

Word comes to us from artist Angel Contreras (at the Circus Magic convention) that there were only 8 Bill Irwin figurines cast, not 12 like we originally thought.

One is on display in the International Hall of Fame, six are in private collections (one being the private collection of Bill Irwin himself) and one could be yours.

LIVE AUCTION: To Benefit the International Clown Hall of Fame (Pink Lemonade)

Next up, Maxwell Frederic Coplan's incredible 1945 photo book, Pink Lemonade.

If you've ever seen the classic Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey poster of Lou Jacobs then you are already familiar with the work of Mr. Coplan. The commentary is by circus press agent F. Beverly Kelley, who helped to write Emmett Kelly's autobiography, Clown.

Bidding for one of my very favorite circus books starts at $35.00 plus shipping

The bidding starts now and continues through 11:59 PM (EST) Sunday night. Simply place your bid in the comments section of this post.

LIVE AUCTION: To Benefit the International Clown Hall of Fame (Lou Jacobs Pewter Statue)

Next up we have a Lou Jacobs pewter statue created for his induction in 1998. Mounted on a fine wood base, this very rare and limited statue is a lasting tribute to one of the worlds' most famous clowns!

Start bidding at  $50.00 plus shipping

The bidding starts now and continues through 11:59 PM (EST) Sunday night. Simply place your bid in the comments section of this post.

LIVE AUCTION: To Benefit the International Clown Hall of Fame (Red Skelton/Lou Jacobs Print)

Next item up for bid is a Red Skelton lithograph of a Lou Jacobs-inspired, Native American clown.

This item was donated to the International Clown Hall of Fame by Red Skelton himself when he was inducted for future fundraising efforts of the ICHOF. It is a truly beautiful print.

The bidding starts at $50.00 plus shipping

The bidding starts now and continues through 11:59 PM (EST) Sunday night. Simply place your bid in the comments section of this post.